TEHRAN – With less than five months until the 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification, the Football Federation of Islamic Republic of Iran (FFIRI) faces a real dilemma over selecting the next Team Melli coach.

TEHRAN – President of the Football Federation of the Islamic Republic of Iran (FFIRI) Mehdi Taj and Qatar Football Association (QFA) President Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa bin Ahmed al Thani met in Moscow on the sidelines of the 2018 World Cup final on Sunday.

FIFA president Gianni Infantino says that it was premature to talk of a 48-team tournament in Qatar, which he stressed would have to be consulted first, and said he had no idea whether Iran could be a co-host.